Auburn High School - Trojan / Oracle Yearbook (Auburn, IL)

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iiMiiiiiniiiiiiiinimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii ......................................................................................... ORACLE I ................................................................................................. 1 | .................................................................... in conference with his private secretary, as usual. We sent in our cards and were imme- diately ushered into the private office. There sat Katherine Lanham and Frank Hocking. They greeted us warmly. I soon found out that Frank had become one of Illinois’ most prominent lawyers and Katherine was his private secretary. He said that if it had not been for Kate, he would never have reached his height of law. Of course, he said there was nothing else between them, at present, except the desk. The eight of us who were in Springfield held a party that night and all of us enjoyed ourselves immensely. We planned a reunion party to be held in the near future. I had to part with them, as I still had others that I had not seen. It was a sad parting. I next came to Peoria, and stopped at a huge factory. I could not imagine what they made there, so I went in to see. The first man I ran into was none other than Hawley Woolsey. He said he was glad to see me and that he would show me around. I learned that it was the Caterpillar Tractor Manufacturing Co. Hawley said he was inspector of the tractors after they were turned out. I told him about all of our classmates that I had seen lately and what they were doing. He was eager to know about them, and after I left for Chicago. I decided the first thing that I must purchase after I landed in Chicago would be a tooth brush. I had been spending a night or so without my tooth brush. I stopped on State Street and entered one of the glittering drug stores located there. What, to my astonishment, should I see written in large letters inside but “John Hederick, Prop. I knew then why I should come to Chicago for a tooth brush. It was the means of leading me to another classmate. I looked up John and found that he was unmarried. I asked him the reason, and he said that the “only one” had married a grade school professor. So he had gone into the druggist work. He said that he would take time to go over to the Northwestern University with me, as he knew that I would want to see Zeke, the school’s most popular sheik. Of course I was tickled P. G. Zeke liked athletics so well that he decided to coach. We found him conversing with a group of the girls. He was telling them what’s what. We had him to ourselves for about an hour, but the girls interrupted and took him away. I bade him good-bye, after telling him of the reunion party, and was on my way. The next journey was short, as it was only a matter of 275 miles. I took this journey differently from those I had been taking. I went on the Big Four Railroad this time—the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis road. I overheard a conversation between two men who were on the same train. They were talking about the president of the road, saying that he had made the High School famous that he had graduated from. He put the town on the map. I got curious as to what town it was. When I heard them mention Auburn, I sat up and took notice. Luck had favored me thus far, and I had to follow my woman’s intuition in following up this clew. 1 knew that it must be another of my classmates. I arrived in Cleveland and immediately looked up the president of the Big Four Railroad. He was in conference with his private secretary, but the office girl took my card and I was ushered in. There sat Samuel Dodds as big as you please, dictat- ing to Elsie Hoard. My good fortune was doubled as before. We exchanged greetings, and after exchanging news I counted up the classmates that I had not yet seen. There were exactly six more. We were wondering where those six would be. After con- gratulating Sam on his success and wishing Elsie more good luck. I proceeded on my way. I came to Pittsburg and decided to get my picture taken and send one to each of my classmates. I inquired for the best photographer and was directed to one. As I entered the spacious room, with photographs hanging all around, a lady stepped up and asked if iiimmmi.......................... limit.............mi....iimimimm ;( :{) 7 Twenty-Four

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=ORACLE 11 ii ■•••in i ■ ii ii ii mi i ii mi i mm i ii 111 ni 11 ii ii 11 imi mi inn tu i ■ m ii 11 m i • mihi mi hum n 11111II11III Ml I M Ml I MIMI IIIIIIIMIIMMIIII111111 III MIIII Mil IIMIMI III I Mill 1111 Ml 111111111111II one here in Arizona. I stayed for what was held in the afternoon, and, seeing Roy was busy, I slipped out. I skipped over a number of states that I knew none of my classmates were in; I did not stop there. I came to Missouri, and stopped to get my hair dressed. I ran into Mary Hart, now as a beauty parlor specialist. She did my hair up in fine shape, and I con- gratulated her upon her efficiency. Mary then told me that if I would go over to the St. Vincent’s Hospital I should find another of my classmates. I hurried over, wondering who it could be. Mary had told me to ask to see their most efficient nurse, now attending a most serious case—a young man whose heart was almost broken. His name was Charles something or other, and, after waiting awhile, who should appear but Eunice Greenwood. She had become a nurse and it had almost broken Charles’ heart, so now she had to take care of him. We talked over old times, but as Charles kept ringing for Eunice she had to go, and after bidding good-bye, I resumed my journey. I crossed the Mississippi River, over into Illinois. The scenes immediately became more familiar, and at last I landed in dear old Auburn. I wanted to visit the High School, as I spent the best years of my life there. Who should I meet upon entering but Seth Barnes, who was a professor in chemistry. He said that Virginia had deserted him before they had time to get married, so he went in for chemistry. He said that if I should go across the street to that big gray house I should see Jackie. She had married a grade school professor. Upon leaving her house, I saw K. O. Brown coming down the road. He had a pack of little dogs that were on leashes. When he saw me he slowed up and we began talking. I asked about the dogs, and he said that he was training them to be hurdle jumpers. He immediately gave me a demonstration, and it was about the cutest sight that I had ever seen. He wanted to know if I would accompany him to a big dance out north of town that evening. I had another surprise awaiting me. The dance pavilion was owned by a young lady who lived nearby. We were sitting at a table in a little tea room, when all at once there was a hush, and I heard someone whisper that there was the owner. I turned around, and there was Geneva Studehaker coming toward us. She said that she had bought out the Irwins and had established a good amusement park and dance pavilion on the grounds. She insisted upon me staying all night, but I could not. and bade them good-bye and went on to the Capitol City of Illinois. I decided, as I was going to stay there a little while, that I should go first and see the Y. W. C. A. There were three young ladies in charge of this one. I found, to my surprise, that these three were none other than my classmates, Mary Lorton, Dorothea Hamm and Louise Shecrin. They helped me out on my quest of searching my classmates by telling me that my old friend, Billy Sabine, had his headquarters in Springfield. I was anxious to find out what he was doing. I saw him that afternoon, as I was in the business district. He came up to me and shook hands and immediately started our old argument by saying that my hair was redder. We started arguing, and he said that he w’ould leave it up to someone else whether it was or not, and he immediately took me over to Bressmer’s department store. We found there still another one of our classmates. It was Juanita Harris. I found out that she was head saleslady. Twice a year she goes to Paris to bring back the new designs for dresses. Billy said that there were two more of my old classmates in Spring- field that I had not seen. He said that one was working for the other and that they made a very good combination. Juanita got the afternoon off. so we all three went to look up the persons Billy was speaking of. We came to the Reich Building on the wrest side of the Square and took an elevator up to the fourth floor and entered an office. A stenog- rapher asked us our business, and Billy asked if the lawyer was busy. She said he was a 7 Twenty-Three

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mmimiHiimmiiiiiiiiiH ORACLE 111111111 ■ 11111111M111111 • 11111111111111 iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimimiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiimiiiiiiiiiimi she could do anything for me. I said I would like to get my picture taken. She told me to he seated, saying that the photographer was busy, but would he through presently. Who, to my surprise, should apear soon hut Eldon Johnston. He said he was pleased to see me and told me how he came to he a photographer. He said that although our Senior pictures had been good, he decided that he could do better work himself. He was doing wonderful work and all the people came from miles around to he photographed. I had mine taken, and I must say that it flattered me very much. After this was over, I decided that, as I was so near Washington, and as I had never been there, that I would visit that city. I was interested in the Secret Service that I had read so much about. I knew that the headquarters were at Washington, so I meant to look them up to see if I could learn anything by it. I arrived there early one morning. The city was in a state of excitement. There had been a big robbery at the White House that night. All the secret service men were following clues. I met a relative of mine and we went to lunch together. While there, who should walk in but Jim Comerford. He lunched with us and we learned that he was a secret service man. He told us not to tell, but he had an idea that he had the most important clue of all to that robbery. If lie turned it out all right, he was made. He left us in a state of excitement which could not be controlled. I decided to go to New York and see if I could account for the other four of my classmates. I reached there about mid-day. I took a hotel and rested till about six that evening. I decided to see a revue that evening. I called a taxi and reached there just before it began. I had picked out one that I thought I would like. What to my wondering eyes should appear but Jimmie Clark, the director of the revue. After it was over we had supper together and Jimmie told me that he had heard Eulah Greenwood was leaving for Europe the next day as a companion to a rich old lady. I went to see her off the next day and she was looking fine. She said that she used to have so much fun taking care of her grand- mother that she thought she would like this old lady fine. After seeing her off. I went in search of the other two classmates. I knew they were Janet Gheen and Wilbur Lewis. Hut where should I find them? Suddenly before my eyes there appeared a vision of a studio. A master artist was before the canvas. I realized then that that was the only place for Wib to be. I remembered how he had done such wonderful work for us the year we put out our Oracle. He was so busily engrossed in his work that I thought if I disturbed him that it might ruin the work, so I left, leaving him as he was. I knew that he would forgive me for doing this. After leaving this big studio, I decided to buy a New York Times. I might accidentally find something about Janet in it. What should strike my eyes first but the big robbery that Jim Comerford had been so interested in. It was so well written, so well reported that I looked to see who wrote it. As luck would have it, Janet’s name had been signed to it. I hurried to look her up and tell her all the news. Jim had followed his clue and he was “made,” as he said. I found Janet and she wanted to hear my whole story so that she could have it printed in the New York Times. I told her all of it, and then she wanted to know what I myself was doing and what my occupa- tion was. I could hardly grasp the situation, as I was vaguely talking to Janet and yet it seemed to someone else, too. It seemed that I was being pulled in two different direc- tions. The one with the more force would win. And win it did. For I was suddenly blinded by the sunlight that streamed in through the tent flap, and then I knew I had awakened before I could find out what my occupation was so that I might tell it to Janet. MARY GEDDES. A $i 22 7 Twenty-Five